At a news conference, Christie addressed New Jersey residents’ concerns over the increase.

“Of course they don't want to pay more, but also they don't want to be driving in potholes, they don't want bridges to have problems and all the rest,” he says.

The governor says that the decreased sales tax will save the average New Jersey household $425 a year.

However, state Senate Democrats say that the state depends on sales tax revenue and cutting it would mean a disaster for New Jersey. They say that it would leave a $1.7 billion gap in the state’s budget.

“We all know we need the 23 cents gas tax. We need to re-fund the transportation trust fund, but we can't do it by destroying the state,” says Sen. Loretta Weinberg.

Sen. Weinberg says that Christie’s gas tax plan had “no chance” of passing in the Senate, and says that the governor is acting like “an adolescent.” The Senate is expected to vote on the gas tax plan Thursday.

The deadline to renew the transportation trust fund expires Thursday. Some road projects have already been halted due to the lack of money.

Some lawmakers are talking about coming back to Trenton in July if they can't get that gas tax hike passed.